Gas heater



June s, 1923.

G. F. SCHMIDT GAS HEATER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed DeC. -27. 1921 l wl I v\\l`l L Ldnm j rlft/ June 5, 1923.

- G. F. SCHMIDT GAS HEATER Filed Dec. 27, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 5, 1923.'

G. F. SCHMIDT GAS HEATER I Filed DegL 27. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented ,Junel 5, 1923.

UNITED STATES y raarste patear ovvi-"rica,

GUsTAvE r. SCHMIDT, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GAS HEATER. v

Application filed December 27, 1921. Serial No; 524,941.

T 0 all fw /Lom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, GUsTAvE F SCHMIDT, a citizen of the United States, 'and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have `invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas Heaters, of which the following is a description, reference being had Vto the accompanying drawings, whichform a part of my application.

My invention relates broadly to gas-'heat-- ers or radiators and more particularly to the 'type' employing'v a plurality of heat' radiating elements or radiants in conjunction with a burner provided with a plurality of tips corresponding in number with the heat radiating elements o'r radiants,

which are supported by suitable meansindependently of the burner.

My invention contemplates a construction which will be separate from and to that extent independent of the burner per se, and which is so formed that the heater proper may be placed over the burner after the latter has been secured in place at the desired point and the necessary gas connections have beenl made; thereby providing y a. heater which will permit ready access to the burner without necessitating a coinplete dismantling'of the heater proper or separation ofthe various parts constituting the heater.

One object of my invention isV tol provide a heater, so far as the general body portion is concerned, consisting of two units, the one unit constituting the main body portion, while the other unit constitutes a black-wall or radiant-holding member; with the black-wall unit being readily removwith or* adapted to harmonize with the furnishings and finish of the apartment or room in which the heater is to be placed; with the resultthat a more Aartistic heater "isprovided than fis possible with heaters 'ias Y' heretofore constructed out of metal'.

A further object of my invention is. to

provide a heater, which, when made of f earthen material as above stated, will be of special formations adapted to take care of any unequal expansion and contractionthat may result 'while the heater is lin useglatv'f y the same time providing: a construction* wherein a more perfect combustion ymay be obtained by reason of air passages at predetermined points tol permita proper circulation of air and therefore amore effec-.-

tive radiation induced.

The objects and advantages ofvmy inven- Vtion will all be more fullyrcomprehended from the detailed descriptionof the accompanying dra-wings, wherein`:-

Figure l is a front eleva-tion of one form of my improved heater.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the olf-set line 2-2of Figure l looking inthe direction of the arrows Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken fon the line 8 3 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows. v

Figure 4 is a front perspective View -of the back-wall unit.

Figure 5 is a perspective viewof` a por-4` tion or one end ofthe radiant rest. n

Figure 6 is a detail plan of a burner tip.

Figure 7 kisv a sectional view taken on the n line 7-7 of Figure 6. u Y

'Figurer 8 is a perspective view of one end of the body unit having a configuration substantially:similar to that shown in Figures l and 2 andy disclosing a slight modiication. n Y

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a modied form of back-wall unit adapted for 'usein connection with the bodyunit illustrated in Figure 8. Y'

Figure 10` is a detail verticalsectional Vview of thebaclI-wall unit shown in Figure 9 with a portion of the body unitv illustrated in Figure 8, sh'owingthe vback-wall unit in place. v

f Figure 1l is a perspective view of another I form of my improved heater, with a por! tion ofthe radiants removed.

Figure y1:2 is a modified form of back-wall unit adapted for use more particularly with the type of body unit disclosed in Figures l and 2 and provided with a removable top."

``While the features of mv invention'in many respects may be employedI yin gasf heaters, kof the radiant type, Vmade of metal,

they are especiallyadapted togasjheaters .v

composed of earthern material, such as inajolica or other suitable clay, which may be provided with a proper glaze or enamel whereby an artistic appearance may be pro vided keeping with the desires of the user and in harmony with the furnishings of the room in which the heater is to be placed.

ln its specific embodiment as disclosed in the first three figures of the drawings, it comprises the main body portion or unit consistingof the two end columns or portions l5, l5, united. at the bottom by means of the portion or webs i6, 16, all formed integral and molded into shape with a configuration especially adapted to resist the heat and to compensate for expansion and contraction. The body unit is molded out of clay, such as majolica, and therefore has the end columns or portions l5, l5 made hollow from top to bottom while the connecting base or webs 16, l@ are preferablyarched to provide a suitable cupeningtherebeneath, as at 17, to permit air circulation. The base or connecting` web portion 1G is chambered or hollowed out to receive a suitable burner indicated at i8, which is absolutely independent of and disconnected from the heater and which, in my improved construction, is adapted to be supported by suitable standards as at 19 and 2O adapted to be fastened to the floor the point where theI heater is to be located; the standard or support 2O being; shown of less height because of its attachmentto the mixing chamber portion 2l of the burner' namely the portion provided with the usual hand operated valve whereby the flow of into the burner is controlled and which is also provided with the air-admitting slide, usual in the Bunsen type of gas burner generally employed. The burner is provided with a plurality of tips on which is supported a metallic plate or radiantrest 22 adapted to extend the full lengt-h of the burner and therefore intermediate of the column portions 15, 1.5 and supported by the burner. The radiant rest 22 is preferably of the construction more clearly shown in Figure 5, provided with openings as at 23 adapted to `receive 'the burner-tips, while the upper surface, intermediate of the openings 23 are preferably pro Avided with upwardly projecting lugs 2l, see Figures 2 and 5, which constitute spacing; lugs for determiningthe position of and for maintaining the lower ends of the radiante, indicated at 25, in proper position. As the radiante may be of the usual well known construction employed in what are known radiant heaters and form no part of my invention, specific description thereof need not be entered into,

The connecting' web or bese portion 16, intermediate of the columns or end portions 15, l5, is provided with the slot as at 26, see

Figure 3, of somewhat greater width than the width of the tips of the burner and also preferably slightly greater than the width of the radiant rest or plate 22, in order to leave a slight space intermediate of the plate 22 and tue lower edge of a back-wall unit 2T. The back-wall unit 27, in the construction illust ated, is also made of refractory naterial o1; maiolica lilre the main body unit in order that the rear sido and top :surface1 namely the portions which are exposed, may also be glazed or enameled. T he haelt-wall is made sepa-rate from the body unit and is intended to rest on the upper surface of the connecting web or base portion i6 and preferably se iarated therefrom at the bottom by a suitable asbestos gasket or strip 2S, see Figure 3. rlhe back-w ll unit 2T is formed with the forwardly presenter sides or ends 29 and with a. forwardly oyerhanging top portion 30, formed integral when the sides and the main portion of the baclr as very clearly shown in Figure a; in other words, tl e bach-wall unit 2T may be said to be recessed on its front face to receive the radiant elements 25. ln order that the upper ends of the radiant elements 25 may be held against accidental displace`- ment, l prefer to have the lower face of the top portion 30, provided preferably with a plurality of sockets 3l, which may either be a continuous socket or channel lengthwise of the top 30, or a series of separate sockets separated by the web portions 32, which will ensure the upper ends of the radiante being maintaineo in slight spaced relation as disclosed in Tvgure l. To ensure the back-wall unit 2*.' 'ngglield in place on the bot y unit, l show uio cuter1 surfaces of the sides or end portions 29, 2), provided uf'ith a channel tending from the bottom to a. point adja the top, while the inner adjacent sides of the columns or end portions l5, l5 of the main body unit are in turn provided with projections or lugs 3ft, di see Figure 2, adapted to lit into the recesses or channels tie lugs or projections being formed any suitable point on the inner adjacent faces of the columns or end portions `l it from the construction shown .nd described 'that the back-wall unit .e sid into and out of place by simply the bach-wall u it upwardly. allowlugs or projections 34. to ride throua'h .wer t* i end of the socliets or chan- Ls This construction not only permits a ready assembly of the radiante 25, but it also b apparent that access to the burner-tins may be had without necessitab n; removal of the entire heater.

here the heater is made of a suitable clay, such as majolica,. the provision of a separate back-wall unit will compensate for the differences in expansion and contraction of the entire heater, because the back-wall unit will be subjected tothe greatestA degree of heat and if made integral with the main or body unit would be apt to resultin cracking or breaking due to the unusual variance in expansion and contraction. lt will be understood, of course, that the fit between the back wall unit and the main or body unit is not extremely snug, but just sufficient to maintain the back-wall unit in place by the lugs or projections 34 disposed into the grooves or channels 33, thus allowing for sufficient expansion on the part of the backwall unit in excess of any expansion resulting in the main or body unit. Furthermore, in order to eliminate any possibility of the back-wall unit cracking or breaking through excessive heat, l prefer to provide the front surfaces of the forwardly projecting sides or ends 29, 29 of the back-wall unit with slight cuts or slits as at 35, 35, of comparatively shallow depth, while the overhanging portion,of the top 30 of the back-wall unit is also preferably provided with a similar cut or slit as at 36 see Figure 1. It has been found in practice that with these cuts or slits, breakage of the enamel or glaze `on the back-wall unit, due to excessive heat, will be prevented; it being understood i that these cuts or slits are comparatively narrow cuts and merely extend to a slight depth in the side portions 29 and the top portion 30.

The lower ends of the columns or end portions l5, l5,- adjacent the bottom thereof, may be provided with small openings, preferably arched as at 37, see Figure 3, which not only permit a greater circulation of air beneath the bottom of the heaterfand upward about the radiants-but one of the openings 37 also provides a passage for the usual hand-valve whereby the How of gas' to the burner is controlled.

In Figures 8 to l0, I show a modification of my invention, wherein the columns or end portions 15a of the body unit, like in the construction shown in Figure l, is formed integral with the connecting web or base portion 16a which is formed with a. flat surface on the upper side, slotted longitudinally at 26 as in the previously described construction. The columns or end lportions 15a of the body unit are each provided with a pair of lugs or projections 38 and 39. the former being disposed at a point slightly removed from the upper end of the end portions while the lug 39 is preferably arranged adjacent to the top surface of the connecting web 16a., namely at the ends of the slot 26 see, Figure 8. The remainder of the body unit may be identical in construction and configuration with that shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the general construction of the back-wall unit 27a maybe identical with that shownin Figure 4, except, that the sides or ends 29a in this instance have the longituthat theopen side 40 of the channels 33a will permit passage of the lugs-38,as shown when the back-wall unit is `in the positionV indicated in dotted lines in Figure 10 andthen lsliding the back-wall unit downwardly, permitting it to be suspended from' or supported by the lugs 38, as shown-infull lines in Figure 10, at which time the lower end of the channels or grooves 33EL will receive the lugs or projections 39 on the end portions 15a of the body unit, thereby maintaining the back-wall unit in place against acc-idental displacement. and ifv desired leavea slight space beneath the back-wall unit for insulation from the body-unit. j

In Figure ll, l show -a further'modification of my invention,'more particularly in so far as the configuration of the 'main` body unit is concerned,'wh`erein the side portions or ends 4l, 4l are ofa more or less rectangular configuration, tapering l toward the tops, with their opposing inner sides shown providedV ,with the longitudinal ribs or ridges 42 'arranged lengthwise of the opposite longitudinal Vedges, Ato providev a groove or slideway therebetween into which the ends of the back-wall unit 43 arel adapted to extend; thus permitting the back-wall unit to be put into place orremoved by simply sliding the same vertically from orI to the upper end of the end portions or sides 41 of the main uni-t. The back-wall unit, like the back-wall units previously described, has the ends projecting somewhat forwardly as is also the case with the 'top portion 44thereof so as to provide aradia'nt receiving recess lon the front face ofy the back-wall unit; said unit being adapted to y rest on the connecting web portions "16b of the body unit, vformed similar lto the web structions, namely in` so far as the upper 4face thereof is concerned, in order to provide a slot-waysimilarto slot 26, for the reception of the burner-tips and the radiant j rest or plate 22. The overhanging top yporrear fside of the body unit, onwhich the1 30 back-wall unit mainly rests, may likewise lilo v portions in the ypreviously described'. con-" be provided with a cut or slit, because the back-wall unit is subjected to the greatest amount of heat, which may be somewhat transferred to the rear connecting web.

As one object of my invention is to provide a radiant gas heater made out of majolica or suitable earthern material, the various units, more particularly the body units, are made of the hollow construction and in the designs presented in the drawings which are especially adapted to take care of varying degrees of expansion and contraction resulting from certain parts of the heater being in very close contact with the radiants and the products of combustion which will cause such parts to expand more rapidly than is the case with lthe more remote portions. Unless a special construction therefore is provided, breakage of the clay would be very apt to occur and blistering of the glazed or enameled surface would be encountered and for that reason ll employ the expansion and contraction seams or slits shown and the more or less loose fit described between the back-wall unit and the body unit.

In Figure 12, l illustrate a modied form of back-wall unit wherein the main portion of the unit i7 is provided with the forwardly projecting side walls or end portions 48 whose outer faces are each provided with the longitudinally disposed channel or groove 4:9, shown extending from top to bottom, to adapt the back-wall unit for use with a body unit provided with lugs or lips like those shown at 34 in Figure 2 ar ranged lengthwise of the inner opposing faces of the end portions or Columns, enabling` the back-wall unit to be inserted into place and removed by sliding the back-wall unit vertically from or to the upper ends of the endportions or columns of the body unit. In the modication shown in Figure 12, the top portion 50 is formed separate and apart from the main portion of the back-wall unit; the lower face of the top 50 being preferably provided with a series of sockets 3l, like those in the unit shown in Figure 4l, into which the upper ends of the radiants 25 extend when the latter have been put into place on the supporting plate 22 mounted on the burner-tips. The lower surface of the top portion .30, adjacent the ends thereof, is also shown provided with the depending lugs 5l, 5l formed to register with and to depend into the upper ends of the grooves or channels t9 in the outer faces of the sides or end portions t8 of the backwall unit. With this construction, the backwall unit 47 is first put into place by slid-' ing the same vertically downward onto the connecting web or base of the body unit with the lugs on the adjacent inner surfaces of the columns or 'end portions arranged within the grooves or channels e9; the top portion 50 is then put into place by having the lugs 51 extend into the grooves or channels 49. lt is clearly evident that the back-wall unit will be removably held in place as is also the casev with the top portion 50; thus permitting the easy assembly or disassembly of the respective parts of the heater; while the separate and non-rigidly connected units of the heater will permit of. unequal expansion and contraction of the respective units without affecting each other.

In my improved heaters, the radiant rest 22 is shown` at what constitutes its forward edge, provided with an upwardly and downwardly disposed flange 223a which is adapted to rest on the upper surface of the main p0rtion of the burner adjacent to the tips thereof, wnile the upwardly disposed portion of the iiange 23L will prevent the lower ends of the radiante 25 from becoming displaced or moving forwardly out of proper register with the respective burner-tips. rlfhe backwall units of my heater are adapted to rest entirely on the upper surface of the rear connecting web or base portion of the body unit, as more clearly shown in Figure 3; while the longitudinal slot or space between the upper surfaces of the connecting webs of the main or body unit and the width of the radiant rest are so correlated that a proper air space between the back-wall and the radiant rest is provided, which enhances combustion and at the same time prevents the transference of heat from the back-wall unit through the metallic radiant rest to the body unit of the heater. As the radiant rest is preferably of metal, it necessarily will constitute a heat conductor and for that reason I prefer to employ an asbestos gasket intermediate of the radiant rest and the burner in order that the heat from the radiant rest may not be transferred to the burner per se, as improper heating of the burner interferes with its proper operation and is likely to cause a backflash or fire. lvl/lith my improved construction, the metal portions of the heater, to-wit the burner and the radiant rest, are out of intimate contact with the majolica or clay body of the heater either because of the air-space provided therebetween or the employment of suitable insulation, such as asbestos gaskets.

My improved heater body, as is apparent from the drawings, is absolutely independent of the burner; and in practice the burner is first secured in place at the desired point on the floor, after which the heater body is placed over the burner, with the latter disposed within the hollow base portion intermediate of the sides or ends and immedi ately beneath the space or slot 26 arranged in the top surface of the connecting webs of the body unit. The forward recessed face of the baclnwall unit is shown preferably formed corrugated or iuted as at 52 and slightly receding toward the top, which not only permits a slight lean or inclination on` an enameled or glazed surface of greater artistic appearance than l is the case with heaters as heretofore employed and made of metal; at the same time providing a heater adapted to withstand the high temperatures to which is is subjected when in use.

In order to ensure a proper positioning of the radiants and to compensate for any slight inaccuracies on the bottoms thereof, I prefer to construct the radiant rests 22 with a slight rearward and downward slope, thereby preventing the possibility of the radiants Ahaving a forward inclination toward the top. Furthermore, in order to take care of slight differences that may exist betWeeen the length of the radiants and the distance from the radiant rest to the sockets in the top portion of the back-wall unit, I provide the top surface of the burner at suitable points intermediate of the tips with a pair of bosses having tapped openings adapted to receive the threaded ends of the screws or bolts 53 which pass through suit` able openings at the ends of the radiant rest 22; the screws or bolts being shown provided with washers at 54 disposed beneath the radiant rest to support the same in .its adjusted position. With this construction, it is apparent that by screwing the bolts or screws inV proper direction, the radiant rest may either be raised or lowered as desired.

I have shown specific exempliiicationslof my invention which have been described in terms employed merely asterms of description and not as terms of limitation, as structural modifications are possible and may be,

made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim. is l. A gas heater of the character described, comprising a body' unit provided with upstanding ends or columnar sides and an integral intermediate hollow base portion, the base portion being formed with a longitudinal burner-tip receiving opening, and a back-wall unit adapted to .be disposed on said intermediate base portion of the body unit, the columnar sides of the body unit and said back-wall unit being provided with interlocking surfaces for removably securing the back-wall unit in place, in combination with radiant elements arranged along the front face of said back-wall unit and above said burner-tip receiving opening.

V2. A gas heater of the character described, comprising' a body unit consisting of integral hollow base portions andupstalnding endportio'ns, the opposing faces ofthe upstanding end portions being provided with projections while the basel portion` intermediate of said upstanding ends isformed .withv a burner-tip receiving opening, anda Vrecessed back-wall unit removably seated lon the base portion intermediate of ltlieeupstanding ends of the bodyfunit, the ends of the back-wall unit being formed to pro-vide interlocking relation with the projections on said upstanding ends of the body unit to removably holdthe back-wall unit in place, a

burner disposed in the hollow base portion beneath the burner-tip` receiving opening,'a radiant supporting member arranged in said opening and adjustably secured vto the burner, and a pluralityof radiant elements arranged along the front face of said backwall unit on said supporting member.

3. A gas heater of the character described, comprising a body unit having a hollow base portion provided with upstanding ends integral therewith, the intermediate part of said base portion being provided with an elongated slot extendingfrom one upstanding end to the other, and a separate back- `wall unit adapted to be disposedl inter-i mediate rof the upstanding ends and to rest on the intermediate po-rtion of the body unit, ysaid back-wall unit being provided with a forwardly projecting top socketed on i its lower face, the body unit and back wall unit` being provided with interlocking portions for removably securing the back-wall unit in place, a radiant supporting member arranged in said elongated slot, in combination with radiant elements arranged on said'- supporting member along the front face of the back-wall unit with their upper vends disposed in the socket of the forwardly projecting top of the back-wall unit.

4. A gas heater composed of heat resista ing clay, comprising a body unit having upstanding ends integrally connected together at their'bottoms by a base portion vprovided with av burner-tipv receiving opening in the upper face thereof intermediate of said ends,

and a back-wall unit having a recessed front face and a forwardly projecting top, said forwardly projecting top being recessed on its under surface, the ends of the'backewall unit and upstanding ends of the body unit"V .being formed to have interlockingfrelation for removablyholding the back-wall unit in place, in combination with radiant elements arranged in said recessed front face of the back-wall unit above the burner-tip receiving opening, with the upper ends of the elements disposed in the recessed lower vsurface of the projectingtop of the 'backwall unit.

5. A gas heater composed of heat-resist-A lvrs" ing clay and comprising a body unit having upstanding ends integrally connected together at the bottom by a base portion, the base portion intermediate ot said upstanding ends beingprovided with an elongated burner-tip receiving opening, and a backwall unit having forwardly projecting ends and a top, said back-wall unit and body unit being formed to have sliding interlocking relation with each other and each provided with slits at predetermined points to conipensate for unequal expansion and contraction.

6. A gas heater composed of heat resisting,` clay and comprising a body unit having' integrally formed upstanding ends and a hollow base portion adapted to be disposed over a gas burner independent thereof, said base portion intermediate ot the upsta-nding ends being slotted to receive the burner-tip, a radiant rest disposed in said opening on the burner and out oli heat conducting relation with the body unit and adapted to permit air circulation thereabout, and a back-wall unit disposed on the base portion intermediate or' the npstanding ends of the body unit and provided with a socketed overhanging top, the body unit and back-wall unit being provided with interlocking surfaces whereby the baclrwall unit is removably secured in place, in combination with radiant elements arranged on said radiant rest adjacent the front face of the back-wall unit, with the upper ends disposed in the socket ci the overhangiing;` top whereby said elements are held in place.

7. Agas heater ot the character described, comprising a body unit, a back-wall unit and radiant elements, the body unit being provided with upstanding ends and with a base portion formed integral with the lower art of said ends, the base portion being; slotted intermediate of said upstanding ends to provide a burner-receiving opening, while the ends ot the back-wall unit are adapted to form interlocking relation with the upstanding ends of the body unit to removably hold the back-wall unit in place, said back-wall unit being; provided with a removable top whose lower Jface is soclreted to receive the upper ends of the radiant elements.

8. A heater of the character described, composed of heat-resisting' clay and consisting of a body unit having upstanding ends while the intermediate base portion is pro-vided with an elongated burner-tip receiving opening', a back-wall unit formed to provide interlocking relation with the upstandingr ends of the body and having; an overhanging top recessed on its lower tace to receive the upper ends of radiant elements, in combination with a radiant rest adapted to be disposed on the burner within the burner-tip receiving opening of the body unit, and means whereby said radiant rest is insulated from said body unit.V

9. ln a gas heater of the character described, comprising a body unit having upstanding` ends formed integral with a hollow base portion having a burner-tip receiving` opening; in the upper tace thereoiE intermediate of said ends, said base portion being provided with air-admitting openings, a back-wall unit adapted to be disposed on the base portion or' the body unit, rearward of the openingtherein to permit air circulation at the iront face of the back-wall unit, in combination with ra-V diant elements arranged along` thc front tace oi the back-wall unit, and a radiant rest disposed in the opening; ot the base portion oi the body unit in insulated relation therewith.

l0. A gas heater of the character described, composed or" heat-resisting' clay and comprising' a body unit with upstanding ends and integral hollow base portion, having a burner-tip receiving opening in the upper face of the base portion, said base portionvbeinp formed with air-admitting' openings and an expansion and contraction seam. and a back-wall unit adapted to have interlocking relation with the body unit and to permit air to circulate through said burner-tip receiving opening in the body unit. i

1l. A gas heater comprising; a separate body unit and a separate back-wall unit. each composed of heat resisting clay and formed to have interlocking' relation with each other to permit removal or" the baclrwall unit, the body unit having; columnar ends between which the back-wall unit is placed, the body unit being formed with an open bottom and provided with a burner'- tip receiving opening' in the base intermediate of the columnar ends, in combination with a gas burner located in the open bottom of the body unit and unconnected therewith, the burner being provided with supporting standards whereby the burner is supported independently of the body unit.

12. A gas heater comprising a body unit and a back-wall unit having interlocking relation with each other to permit ready removal of the back-wall unit, the body unit being; formed to receive a burner in the bottom thereof and provided with a burnertip receiving opening, in combination with a gas-burner supported independent of the body .unit7 a radiant-rest arranged in said opening, and means whereby the position of said rest relative to the burner may be regulated.

GUSTAVE F. SCHMIDT.

litnesses:

G. HEIDMAN, F. A. FLoRnLL. 

